Piccadilly Line (3)

Nicholas Rogers: How will the Mayor ensure that this vital project – which will improve Piccadilly Line capacity by 60% - will be delivered during his current term of office?

The Mayor: As per my response to 2020/4501, the renewal of signalling on the Piccadilly line is one of Transport for London’s (TfL) most pressing capital investment priorities. New automatic signalling and train control, similar to systems already in place on the Victoria, Jubilee and Northern lines, would enable up to 36 trains per hour and maximise the benefits of the new fleet of Piccadilly line trains to be built by Siemens in Goole, Humberside.
The Department for Transport has made it clear that TfL will not be expected to finance major capital enhancements and major renewals (such as rolling stock and signalling) solely from operating incomes. TfL and I will continue to work with the Government to agree a sustainable, long-term funding solution, which will determine future plans for major projects, including the upgrade of signalling on the Piccadilly line. As my response to question 2021/2035 sets out, agreeing a sustainable long-term funding solution with the Government is my number one transport priority at present.

TfL’s structural funding framework

Elly Baker: Please provide an update on your work with Government to explore the potential and options for enhancements to TfL’s structural funding framework including multi-year “control periods”, in order to enable TfL to act as an economic and efficient operator and provide a framework for the organisation acceptable to all parties that will facilitate sufficient certainty of funding to enable TfL to reach financial sustainability.

The Mayor: Options for enhancements to Transport for London’s (TfL) structural funding framework were set out in its Financial Sustainability Plan, which was published on 11 January 2021 and can be found here: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/financial-sustainability-plan-11-january-2021.pdf.
The Government commissioned KPMG to do a review of TfL’s finances last year, and this work has continued into 2021. TfL has co-operated fully with the review and responded to questions and requests for information. As yet, I do not have any further information on how the Government intends to respond to options for enhancing TfL’s structural funding framework. TfL continues to work collaboratively with the Government, seeking to progress discussions to secure longer-term funding certainty.

A24/CS7 (2)

Leonie Cooper: There was a previous consultation on pedestrianisation improvements along the A24 that would complement the changes and improve the public realm. Can the Mayor update me on the progress of this?

The Mayor: The consultation report about pedestrian improvements in Tooting Town Centre was published in 2020. Since then, this and other schemes have been paused as Transport for London (TfL) focused on rapidly delivering temporary and experimental schemes as an emergency response to the pandemic. The scheme is still in TfL’s draft programme, subject to the constraints of the Government funding deal agreed on 1 June following the devastating impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances. Further clarity is expected to be provided in TfL’s revised Budget in July.

Half-price travel for care leavers

Elly Baker: On 29 October 2020 Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England 2015 – 2021, made 10 asks for care leavers including “Free local travel, which is not just limited to off-peak travel”. Will you agree to provide free travel, rather than the planned half-price travel? Please give your reasons.

The Mayor: I have asked Transport for London to look at the best and most economical approach to delivering this new concession, subject to the constraints of the Government funding deal agreed on 1 June following the devasting impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances.

Cycle parking in High streets and town centres

Elly Baker: You aim to make more efficient use of London’s limited road space by reallocating car parking spaces to cycle parking spaces. Can you outline what re-allocation has taken place and what plans you have for the future?

The Mayor: The Cycle Parking Implementation Plan (Transport for London (TfL), 2019) sets out a strategic, evidence-based approach to delivering cycle parking across London and details a range of approaches to increase the level of provision. Making more efficient use of road space by reallocating car parking spaces to cycle parking spaces is an approach that TfL has been developing as part of its delivery process and encouraging boroughs and London businesses to adopt.
In 2019/20, working in partnership with boroughs, approximately 600 bike hangars (3,500 cycle parking spaces) were installed, most of them located in the carriageway and in car parking spaces.
In addition, in 2020/21, 142 permanent and 400 temporary cycle parking spaces were installed into car parking bays at London Underground stations.
Cycle parking is a fundamental element of London’s cycle network and I have committed to delivering 5,000 new residential cycle hangers, parking hubs at stations and more parking on high streets. TfL will work with London boroughs to achieve these ambitious plans, subject to the constraints of the Government funding deal agreed on 1 June following the devasting impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances.